Opposite of Insane...Great deals

[superba]

We here a lot about insane deals, but many good models can be purchased at a low price.

How about a new thread of fantastic deals. Ebay, retail, flea markets etc.

My first great deal at 5.99, two rare American models from an obsure company at three neat German models. Great deal.

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170030597602

[skunk]

I like your positive attitude.

Sadly, many of us may not want to share all of the amazing deals we find. I can't help but notice that someone named "superba" is already bidding on the above-mentioned item - I guess that means you got dibs... I'll mention all the good deals I encounter as well, or at least those I don't want for myself.

[superba]

Completed deals or transactions. I posted after I won, not before.

If I posted before it closed......I am sure the resulting bids would no longer make the item a post worthy deal.

I always love to find a deal, I guess that makes me a positive guy.

[Markus]

Realy a great deal I love the Dyna models. They have some verry unigue cars indeed.

[Lee]

Hmmm........ may this thread should have called The Great Steals ;D
Great find Joe

[swampdaddy]

HI ALL: If I had a store locally that had some older models I was slowly getting I would keep that is a deep, dark secret.

However, as far as eBay goes that is hard to keep a secret. Anyone with a search engine will find it if they try hard enough.

So, I would probably mention that. And, surely I would mention good deals I was not interested in on eBay. LOL

Have fun all,
Swamp Daddy

[skunk]

Joe: If you posted something here and I saw that you were bidding on it, I most certainly wouldn't compete.

Unless there was a CMD Renault 25 or a Lion Fiat Panda, in which case, principles be d**ned. (modified: swearing not allowed - just try to post something about that Porsche 935 named after Melville's Moby D**k)

[cfesmire]

Not all the good deals are on ebay. I recently posted a find in a hobby shop that specializes in R/C aircraft and the guy had the National Motor Co. '29 Packard in 1/87 for $2.95 in an old and dusty plastic package. I'm tempted to buy some older, no longer produced Sheepscot structures that are selling on ebay for up in the hundreds of $'s that another shop nearby has for the original retail price. Do I give my principles the same heave-ho as Håkan?

[Lee]

cfesmire said:

Not all the good deals are on ebay. I recently posted a find in a hobby shop that specializes in R/C aircraft and the guy had the National Motor Co. '29 Packard in 1/87 for $2.95 in an old and dusty plastic package. I'm tempted to buy some older, no longer produced Sheepscot structures that are selling on ebay for up in the hundreds of $'s that another shop nearby has for the original retail price. Do I give my principles the same heave-ho as Håkan?

I am not following your thinking Chester. Having been an owner of a hobby shop for a number of years, I do have some understanding about how they operate. There is a somewhat standard 40 percent markup from the wholesale price to the retail price so the shop would make the profit he originaly wanted to make if you bought the item you are looking at. Also any shop would be more than happy to get rid of any old stock that has been sitting around for years so they can reinvest the money in something that they will be able sell to the customers that do visit the shop.

If you still feel principled, go talk to the hobby shop owner and tell him what you know. I would guess he would still sell those items to you at the same price he has on them, just to get rid of them.

[skunk]

I am often amazed at hobby store owners that seem never to have visited eBay. I guess it's the upside of market capitalism; one doesn't often get to enjoy that!

[Lee]

Most hobby shops seem to be run by a couple more as a hobby than a business. It takes time and computer knowledge to do a good job of putting items on eBay. Then there is the packing and shipping to deal with after the auction. Most stores just don't want to be bothered with all the extra work involved.

[stanhas87]

skunk said:

I am often amazed at hobby store owners that seem never to have visited eBay. I guess it's the upside of market capitalism; one doesn't often get to enjoy that!

Dear Skunk:

I would say that Burbank House of Hobbies is the exception to this rule,for they sell at eBay vittually all times.

Nick K

[skunk]

Yeah, that's true - but sometimes you know it would be worth it.

I guess a certain amount of computer knowledge may be lacking; my local purveyor (Rudi) has a pretty rough time with the calculator and so I imagine that a PC and the pitfalls of eBay may seem quite daunting.

[cfesmire]

I feel that the hobby shop owner with the Sheepscot kits is a knowledgable fellow and knows what the kits are selling for. I also know he's very friendly with George Barrett of Sheepscot. We had a discussion with regard to them and his feeling is that if someone wants to buy them for resale, that's OK with him but he would prefer that they be bought with building them in mind by a person visiting his shop. So far I have felt compelled to respect his desires as he is a decent fellow and a darn fine 1/87 scale modeler to boot.

[superba]

The posting is starting to morph, but following the thread, it seems to me that deals can be found in small hobby shops that focus on different themes.

I just recently stumbled on a small hobby shop in West Hartford Ct.. The shop focuses it's effort on war game a battleground diagrams. Despite the military focus they have models cars, trucks and HO rr inventory, but the inventory is old and dated.

Now the shop is starting to clean out the basement. Results some really great deals. I just picked up a large stock of William Brothers kits.

Point being deals are out there, you just have hunt them down.